Welcoming a new baby is an exciting event, and new parents certainly deserve to be celebrated. After the roller coaster of pregnancy and childbirth, many moms want to treat themselves to self-care services that help them look and feel their best.
Laser hair removal may seem like a perfect choice: it gives you smooth, silky skin and can free up the time you used to spend shaving or waxing. That equals more time to snuggle your baby or nap while the baby naps.
If you’re breastfeeding, though, you may want to wait before scheduling laser hair removal. While you can do laser hair removal while breastfeeding, it may be more comfortable and effective in a few months’ time.
How Breastfeeding Affects Your Body
Changes to skin and hair are common during the postpartum period. Hormone levels change dramatically after giving birth, which can lead to physical and emotional changes. You might be tired and moody in addition to feeling the physical effects of childbirth.
If you plan to breastfeed, you can expect more changes to your body. Your breasts may feel uncomfortable as you get adjusted to your baby’s needs, and you might have sore, cracked nipples. A lactation specialist can help you with pain, engorgement, and other unpleasant symptoms.
Breastfeeding can also lead to uterine cramps in the early weeks after birth. These cramps help your uterus return to its normal size, but they can be painful. You can expect postpartum bleeding as well, which may last for several weeks.
The hormones that support lactation can cause breakouts and oily skin. On the other hand, breastfeeding requires a significant amount of moisture from your body, which can cause your skin to become flaky and dry. If you’re prone to issues like eczema or rosacea, you may experience increased symptoms while you’re nursing a baby.
In general, it’s best to treat your skin gently during childbirth recovery and breastfeeding. Use products that don’t irritate the skin, and treat any skin conditions according to your doctor’s suggestions.
Can You Do Laser Hair Removal While Breastfeeding?
If your doctor says it’s okay, you can undergo laser hair removal while breastfeeding.
There is no scientific data on the risks of laser hair removal while breastfeeding. The known risks of laser hair removal are minor and commonly include skin irritation. Experts say that there is no evidence that laser skin treatments affect milk production or change the quality of your milk. Laser hair removal is thought to be safe while breastfeeding because the lasers don’t penetrate skin deeply and don’t cause any systemic changes in the body.
The numbing creams used on the skin for laser hair removal during breastfeeding are considered safe and won’t affect your breastmilk or baby.
Factors To Consider Before Getting Laser Hair Removal
While it’s probably okay for you to get laser hair removal while breastfeeding, you might be better off waiting, as your skin and hair may still be changing and not quite ready for significant treatments.
If your skin is extra dry or especially sensitive, the procedure might be more uncomfortable for you. That may be particularly true for the skin of your underarms, which are close to the breasts and may be tender.
You may also want to wait until all postpartum bleeding has resolved before scheduling a bikini line or Brazilian laser hair removal.
Another consideration is postpartum hair loss. During pregnancy, you don’t shed as many hairs per day as you normally would. When hormone levels drop after pregnancy, hair enters the resting phase and begins to fall out. The process is called telogen effluvium, and it’s perfectly normal. The shedding from your scalp is the most noticeable, but body hair is also affected by postpartum hair loss.
Laser hair treatment targets hair in the anagen, or active growth, phase. The laser heats the pigment in the hair strand, destroying the follicle. Hair strands in the resting, or telogen, phase are getting ready to shed and aren’t connected to the follicle. Treating those strands isn’t effective. Thus, you may achieve better results if you schedule treatment after your postpartum shedding is complete and your hair has started regrowing.
Find Tailored Laser Hair Removal in NYC at Laser by Monica
If you are interested in having laser hair removal during breastfeeding, contact Laser by Monica to discuss your treatment plan.
Our experienced technicians are experts at providing concierge-style hair removal in New York City. We can help you figure out the best treatment plan for laser hair removal while breastfeeding so you can get the results you want in a safe and supportive environment. Schedule an appointment today for the best laser hair removal in NYC.